By Gina Valencia A master women's crew racing around Naples Island. Photo courtesy of the Long Beach Rowing Assoc. With six miles of sandy coastline, a mild year-round climate, and an Olympic legacy that stretches back nearly a century, Long Beach has earned its title as the Aquatic Capital of America. When the 2028 Games arrive on our shores, the rest of the world is going to understand why. Long Beach will host 11 Olympic and seven Paralympic events, more than any city out

By Kathleen Mest Photos by Izzy Juarez Just in time for laid-back picnics while enjoying concerts, movies, and other summer activities in the park and beach, these sandwiches were picked for their yum factor and ordering ease; they are perfect to take with you (or dine-in). Thunderbolt Pizza 4085 Atlantic Ave, 90807 @thunderboltpizza With only three sandwiches on their menu, Thunderbolt Pizza is not a sandwich place, but it’s home to one of the best sandwiches in Long Beach.

By Brittany Hart Scholten Photos by Monique Kuhlman Tucked along Anaheim Street between Loma and Temple, Zaferia (pronounced: Za-FAIR-ee-uh) is one of Long Beach’s most eclectic, community-driven neighborhoods. Originally settled by Mexican farm workers from nearby Rancho Los Alamitos in the early 1900s, the area grew tremendously with the arrival of the Pacific Electric Railway before officially becoming part of Long Beach in 1920. The name Zaferia is a mystery—some say it’

By Brittany Hart Scholten Photo by Monique Kuhlman There’s a new experiential art show in Long Beach that you don’t want to miss! Black Canvas Collective—hosted by Leadership Long Beach 2026 graduates Steve Garcia and Samantha Aviles—is revitalizing underutilized spaces around the city, turning them into vibrant, immersive art shows that connect community artists with the people who live alongside their work. Black Canvas Collective Once complete strangers, Steve and Samanth

By Brittany Hart Scholten Photos by Izzy Juarez Artist: Dave Van Patten Driving around Long Beach you’ve probably noticed Dave Van Patten’s numerous murals even if you didn’t know his name. His work is bright and surreal with humans with hamburgers for heads, slices of pizza with a face, walking coffee mugs–eclectic, delightful, and impossible to ignore. “I studied creative writing at Cal State Long Beach but found writing to be limiting. It cannot fully express what visual a

By Rose Varley, Millikan High School student and Copy Editor, Millikan Corydon (school publication) Photo by: Eva Gonzalez Canelo wasn’t just a cat, he was a part of the Millikan High School community. Our beloved, fluffy tabby cat sadly passed away on March 22, 2026, in a car accident in the neighborhoods surrounding the school. Canelo has been a part of Millikan since 2023, his presence always natural and unquestioned. Owned by a nearby neighbor, Canelo would walk over to

By John Grossi Photo by Izzy Juarez Pictured: Martin (center) and two of his Sons holding their signature dish #THELBC. It includes Angus steak with a Hibachi lobster tail, Hibachi chicken breast, four pieces of shrimp & garlic noodles, mixed vegetables and two servings of fried rice. It feeds 2+ for $45! Martin Luzanilla, a tow-truck driver by trade, found himself with little to no work when the pandemic hit. Unable to support his family and in real danger of failing to make

By John Grossi Photos by Monique Kuhlman Co-Owners: Matt Knabe, John Mallinger & Dan D'Sa In 2020, retired professional golfer and Long Beach resident John Mallinger bought into Riley’s because it was the one place in Long Beach where he always felt most comfortable. “Even when I was competing on the PGA tour, training every day, this was the one spot I would come and hang out after practice,” Mallinger says. Since the buy-in, John had stayed mostly behind the scenes. Riley’s

By John Grossi Photo submitted by Nancy Thomas Nancy Thomas Travel | Website: NancyThomasTravel.com While Long Beach has always been home, traveling the U.S. and internationally—both for work and leisure—has defined Nancy Thomas’ life. Through her decades of exploring countless cities during business travel as an entrepreneur and CEO in the office supplies space, she became known among friends and family as the “travel expert.” Everything added up to the perfect semi-retire

By John Grossi Photos by Brian Addison Nothing ever changes inside the walls at Joe Jost’s, and nothing ever will. The iconic bar has become one of the oldest and most famous establishments west of the Mississippi, and a big reason for that notoriety is a strict adherence to the concept that times change, but not Joe Jost’s. “Inside these walls is sacred to so many people,” says owner/operator and former employee Jon Sweeney. “You come here and know you’re sitting on the same

By John Grossi Photo byTravis Smith-Evans Blooms With A Cause Starting in June, you can head to Farm Lot 59 on Saturday mornings from 9am-1pm to pick your own flowers. It’s a great place to smell the flowers, escape the hustle bustle, and support local agriculture. Best of all, you’ll come home with a fresh bouquet of fresh, responsibly grown, seasonal flowers hand-picked by you! Did you know there’s a working urban farm right in the middle of Long Beach? Since 2010, Farm Lo

Take a Fascinating History Tour of Long Beach! By John Grossi Photos by Izzy Juarez This summer, many Long Beach residents will go on vacation and travel to another city where they’ll immerse themselves in that city’s history tours, museums, culture, and gardens. Travel is great! But it can be easy to forget about the history museum right in our own backyard. Rancho Los Cerritos (RLC) just so happens to also feature gardens, acres of preserved land, and exhibits of local arti